Philadelphia or Philly to the locals, is the largest city of the US State of Pennsylvania. The estimated population of the city is 1,553,165. Philadelphia International Airport & Northeast Philadelphia Airport are the city's two airports. The city is educationally very advanced and is the home to the prestigious research universities of the University of Pennsylvania, the Drexel University, and the Temple University. Some major schools of medicines are also situated here.
The city is economically enriched and many Fortune 500 companies have their offices here. The city is the home to Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
Many sites in the city are designated as the national historical sites. The Independence National Historical Park is the home to the historic district of the city. Independence Hall is the centre of attraction at the Park. The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were both discussed and signed in Philadelphia. The Park also has Franklin Court which is a specialty museum dedicated to the life of Benjamin Franklin. Independence Hall has the Independence Visitor Center, National Constitution Center was the previous location for the President's House.
Readers of detective novels will love to visit the home of the writer Edgar Allan Poe. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest research institution for natural science in the Western Hemisphere. A specialty museum for Medical Sciences is the Mutter Museum, and history buffs will simply love a tour to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the oldest art school and museum in the US, and has an enviable collection of American sculptor's and painter's works. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts houses the Philadelphia Orchestra.
While in Philly you have to make sure you try both of their iconic local fares, cheese steak and soft pretzel's.
Right from the outset, Philadelphia is more of a cultural rich city, than a location for amusement parks and action packed adventures. But for those of you that love the charm of brilliant architecture in buildings, and delving into the rich world of history and culture you will not be disappointed. The top line tourist attractions would have to include the Liberty Bell, the Please Touch Museum, Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia Zoo, Japanese House and Garden, the Rodin Museum, Congress Hall, the First and Second Banks of the United States, the Rosenbach Museum and Library, Wagner Free Institute of Science, Fort Mifflin, Rocky Steps, Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the Philadelphia History Museum, the USS Olympia Memorial, Woodmere Art Museum, Memorial Hall, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, and Le Bec Fin.